Algarve hotels with year-end program with occupancy rates above 90%

Algarve hotels with special year-end entertainment packages have occupancy rates above 90% and many are already sold out, the president of the sector’s main regional association calculated this Friday.

“It’s a long weekend and based on the feedback from hotels that have year-end entertainment programs, they have excellent occupancy rates, all above 90%, many of them full,” said President Luse of the Association. Algarve Hotels and Tourism Enterprises (AHETA), Helder Martins.

The director added that, according to a survey conducted by the association, “many dozens” of hotel units offering special year-end packages that include lodging, dinner and shows, among other services, are “already full.”

“For those who work, if they have a program at the end of the year, everything is fine. Those who do not have an end-of-year program are getting last-minute bookings this week from people coming to street events,” he noted, adding that another positive factor is the good weather forecasts for the period.

Although around 40% of the Algarve’s hotel supply is closed, AHETA expects occupancy levels of “in the order of 70-75%” to be reached by New Year’s Eve, “above last year”.

“We are at the peak of the low season. We had over 80% [de taxa de ocupação] in October we had 45% in November and last year we had 35% in [todo o mês de] December. This year will be better because Christmas was also much better,” emphasized Helder Martins.

The Algarve has offers to suit every budget, from the most expensive to the most economical, but the AHETA president admitted that hotels with more expensive packages were “filling up first”.

“This is a small report of what happened in the summer, that is: those who have money, have money, want to travel, are available. Those who have difficulties, those who pay interest, housing or have other problems, they have more difficulties,” he analyzed.

The Portuguese market continues to be the “main supplier” of tourists on New Year’s Eve, including “last day decision makers”, but there is also strong demand from the English, Irish, French, Germans and Scandinavians, especially for the areas of Vilamoura, Albufeira, Portimao.

However, Helder Martins lamented that the Algarve does not have a “unique program that would motivate and stimulate the attraction of large numbers of tourists” to the region.

“Obviously, in the Algarve, unfortunately, there is no program with such a large impact at the end of the year as, for example, in Madeira. We have 20 or more programs, but we don’t have a big program. Albufeira is making a very significant effort, but each municipality has its own program,” he said.

In Albufeira, New Year’s Eve takes place on the streets with music from The Gift and Amália Hoje, as well as a pop art parade to cap off the five-day program.

On the last night of the year, the groups DAMA and Quem é o Bob? They perform in Quarteira, while Diogo Pizarra and Pete Ta Zouk take the stage in Monte Gordo, in Vila Real de Santo António.

Kalema entertains crowds in Lagos as Faro hosts Revenge of the 2000s and Portimão bids farewell to the year with Turb’ Ó Baile.